PHILADELPHIA— On Saturday afternoon, the first pitch of the 2025 Philadelphia Phillies season will be thrown. Kicking off Grapefruit League action against the Detroit Tigers, the Phillies are set to roll out their first iteration of a lineup and pitching staff this year. Nabil Crismatt, a new name in South Philly, is taking the ball to start for the club.
While Spring Training is a time for loosening the arm, trying a new swing, and getting your timing down, it is also a time for competition. With the majority of the Phillies roster already locked up in 2025, only a few spots are available. That will lead to competition amongst many players over the next six weeks.
Crismatt Competes
Crismatt is one of the players looking to earn a spot in the Phillies bullpen. A unit that was strong a year ago fell short in the postseason. With Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez moving on, new players will have chances to earn their innings.
Nabil is a 30-year-old right-hander who has totaled 5 seasons in the big leagues. He has spent time with the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Last season, he split time between San Diego, LA, and the Texas Rangers organizations. He appeared in just 5 games but pitched to a solid 2.57 earned run average in 7 innings of work. In Triple-A, he appeared in 27 games, starting 16 of them. He pitched to a 5.81 earned run average in 79 total minor league innings. He struck out 75 batters, earning a K/9 of 8.5.
The veteran projects as a low-leverage reliever who can pitch in multiple innings for the Phillies. That is why he is expected to get two innings of work in the Saturday opener. Crismatt has to prove that he can be effective and provide length.
The Competition
As stated, the Phillies already have locked up most of their relief spots on the Opening Day roster. Players such as Jordan Romano, Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering, Jose Alvarado, Jose Ruiz, Tanner Banks, and Joe Ross appear to be locked in. The last spot in the bullpen however is where Nabil could earn his stripes.
He is competing mainly with Taijuan Walker and Tyler Phillips for this spot in the ‘pen. Both players can start if needed but also can come in relief if Rob Thomson is in a pinch. Walker filled that role at the end of last season, and Phillips could find himself there in 2025. Crismatt does not have any options left for the minor leagues, which could help his case on the main roster. His biggest battle will be with Taijuan Walker’s contract and how he performs in camp.
At the end of the day, Nabil Crismatt and the battle for the last bullpen spot is a minor story to watch in Spring Training. The Phillies begin to gear up to defend their National League East title in 2025 and will rely on more than just the 26 players they send to D.C. to start the season. Depth will be key, and Nabil Crismatt could carve himself a nice role in Philly.
Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
